FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NICSA Sponsors Ongoing Compliance Research Program

Boston – January 5, 2005 NICSA announced today that it is continuing its partnership with Diversified Management Resources (D.M.R.) to conduct surveys on various aspects of securities industry compliance practices.

NICSA, PA Compliance, SalesLink Corporation and PFPC sponsored an earlier research project, “Compliance 2004,” which reviewed firms’ readiness for far-reaching regulations that were effective October 5, 2004.

Professionals representing more than 150 securities firms participated in the project, which reviewed the status of plans to appoint chief compliance officers, information resources CCOs will use to monitor and audit adherence to compliance regulations, and other topics.

“Compliance and investment company governance remain the most significant issues in the securities industry today, “says Barbara V. Weidlich, president of NICSA. “Our continued participation in the survey program will help us keep our members up to date on changes, new developments and industry best practices in the compliance area.”

Richard Torre, president of PA Compliance, also a continuing sponsor, noted that “companies affected by the new regulations have few sources of current information about best practice and solutions introduced by their industry peers. The survey program is in part intended to fill that gap,” he said.

Robert Goldberg, former NICSA president and now a principal of D.M.R., said the firm plans four major research projects in 2005, including updates to many of the key topics explored in depth in the “Compliance 2004” study. The next project will focus on investment company governance and among other subjects will explore steps investment company directors and trustees are taking to prepare for the more significant responsibilities they will assume under additional regulations effective in January 2006. A significant part of the study will examine implications for money managers who must support and work closely with the directors in responding to the new regulations.

D.M.R. welcomes inquiries from other firms interested in sponsoring the survey program. Among other benefits, sponsors will be involved in designing the scope and content of each project. For information, contact Charles O’Neill or Robert Goldberg at D.M.R.

About D.M.R.
Diversified Management Resources, Inc is a business development consulting firm supporting the financial services community. The company’s business includes a retained executive search division, a strategic resources division and a creative marketing services division.

The company is well known in the investment community. Principals of the firm have created and managed many successful research projects.

Charles O'Neill, president, had a along career with leading financial companies, including Sun Life of Canada, Putnam Investments and the Colonial Mutual Funds.

Robert Goldberg, who joined D.M.R. as of August 1, is a past president of NICSA and had been managing director of Acadient, an online investment education company. He has been recognized as one of the mutual fund industry’s top ten business leaders.